Dopamine

Lauren

Structure

3,4-dihydroxyphenethylamine

Dopamine
Dopamine


Formula

C8H11NO2

Molar Mass: 153.81 g/mol

Boiling Point: None because it decomposes when reaching such point

Melting Point: 262 F, 128 C

Natural Density: 1.26 g/cm3

Percent Composition: C 62.73%, H 7.24%, N 9.14%, O 20.89%

Percent Composition by Number: Carbon: 36.36 Hydrogen: 50.0 Nitrogen: 4.54 Oxygen: 9.10

Type of Bonding: covalent

Properties: Free base, stout prisms, highly sensitive to oxygen; discolors quickly.



Dopamine can be used as a medication and has a gray, white, fine powder appearance. It is stable under

normal temperatures and pressures while you would want to avoid any contact with strong oxidizing agents. Dopamine

belongs to the catecholamine and phenathylamine classes in a structural sense and is a crystal structure when it is

dopamine hydrachloride. Within in a lab, it can be synthesized into 3,4-dimethoxyphenethylamine by demethylation using

hydrogen bromide. Within the body, it is synthesized by any one of three amino acids provided from natural resources like

food. The neurostransmitter is stored, and released when needed for physiological affects on the body.



*3D Model:


http://molecules.gnu-darwin.org/mod/Dopamine-more.html

*For Mac:

  1. Open with iMol.


About and Discovery:

Dopamine was discovered in Lund by pharmacologist Arvid Carlson in 1957.

The discovery of Dopamine led to a large impact on modern neuroscience research.

Dopamine (3-hydroxytyramine) is an amine that was earlier identified as an intermediary in the synthesis of noradrenaline and adrenaline from tyrosine. Arvid Carlson, Margit Lindqvist, Tor Magnusson, and Bertil Waldeck made the initial observations leading to the conclusion dopamine is a transmitter in the central nervous system.

Reserpine causes loss in motor skills. The team of scientists found that an injection of dopamine was able to reverse the effects.


Extra Knowledge:

It is found in: nigrostriatal systems, mesolimbic systems, and mesocortical systems

Dopamine is the "feel good" drug because it effects mood, movement, and learning

It is created when amino acids enter your body and bloodstream through your intake of food. Active transport mechanisms than take tyrosine from the bloodstream and concentrate it in the brain. When the tyrosine being transported enters dopaminergic neurons, chemical transformations occur producing dopamine.


References:
http://www.med.lu.se/wnc/the_discovery_of_dopamine
http://chemistry.about.com/od/factsstructures/ig/Chemical-Structures---D/Dopamine.htm
http://www.macalester.edu/academics/psychology/whathap/ubnrp/mdma/dopamine.html
http://www.drugfuture.com/chemdata/dopamine.html
http://web1.caryacademy.org/facultywebs/gray_rushin/StudentProjects/CompoundWebSites/1998/Dopamine/Structure.htm
https://www.macalester.edu/psychology/whathap/UBNRP/meth08/biochemistry/dopamine.htm
http://www.chemicalbook.com/ProductMSDSDetailCB8460626_EN.htm